Thursday Bible Study

  [Nehemiah] FOUR: Opposition from the outside_ Nehemiah 4   “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me” is a phrase that many of us were taught as children… but it’s not true. Words can be way more destructive!   [Discussion starter] When have you seen a person or a group of people crumble under the pressure of opposition to ministry?   The enemies of Israel started out at the “sticks and stones” level, but moved quickly to things like slander, intimidation and threats. Israel faced possible disappointment, distraction and discouragement. Our enemy will always oppose the work God. We need to expect and be able to fight opposition if we are to do God’s work.   [Read Nehemiah 4]   In verses 1-6 what is the progression of Sanballat and Tobiah’s threats?     What is usually your response to opposition aimed at you and what you’re doing?     How does Nehemiah respond to these di...

  [Nehemiah] THREE: Working together_ Nehemiah 3 A good leader can motivate others, but a job usually gets done because of prayer and unity among believers. Vision is primarily spiritual not material. When there’s a lot of mundane work (like rebuilding a damaged city wall) there needs to be unity for the job to be completed. People need to feel they’re part of the process or they won’t commit to the work. This describes much of the work of the church too…   [Discussion starter] How do you feel when you’re part way through a job that you thought others were also committed to, only to find out that you’re actually only one of a very few who are committed to the task?   [Read Nehemiah 3]   Who are the main groups / individuals in this chapter who give themselves to the rebuilding work?     If you lived in Jerusalem at this point in history, what part of the work would you feel motivated to do?     What are some of the oc...

  [Nehemiah] TWO: The planning process_ Nehemiah 2   D L Moody was sailing on a boat and a fire broke out. One of his travelling companions said, “Don’t you think we should go and pray, Brother Moody?” and Moody replied, “You can go and pray, brother, but I am going to man the water buckets. There is a time to pray and a time to put the fire out.” Quite often we create this either/or when it comes to prayer and action… and then end up neither praying or doing very much! Discipleship is about finding the healthy balance of both/and… between dependency on God and action on our part.   In this second chapter, Nehemiah shows evidence of carful planning on both sides… praying and doing…   [Read Nehemiah 2]   How does Nehemiah show evidence of having a well-thought through plan in verses 1-9?     What are the differences between the praying Nehemiah does in this chapter and his prayer in chapter 1?     Nehemiah take...

  [Nehemiah] ONE: Depending on God_ Nehemiah 1 Maybe you have heard someone else say (or even said yourself) things like, “I’m too busy too pray” or “This little thing is too insignificant to bother God with” or “That’s too big a problem, it’s too much of an ask for God” or “Who am I to ask that ?” or “What right to I have praying a prayer like that?”   [Discussion starter] How do you respond when you hear bad news about people you care about?   [Read Nehemiah 1]   In verses 1-3 what event is being discussed?     How easy would it have been for Nehemiah to just ignore this report and why?     What four things does Nehemiah do when he hears Hanani’s report?         In verses 5-11 what are the specific concerns that Nehemiah talks about in his prayer?     [Activity] Using the well-known ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication) how do you see these f...